This week Tim Ridley from Leather Lane coffee shop Department of Coffee and Social Affairs guest blogs for Love Camden:

London has, in fact, a proud history of coffee shops. In the 18th century, it was in the City of London’s coffee shops where the ideas of the day were discussed and debated. Fuelled with caffeine, some of the best thinkers of the time built foundations that continue to shape contemporary British life. For example, the very British act of trading futures in The City all started in these coffee houses.

Not convinced? Need more proof? The insurance syndicate that helped build Britain’s maritime fortunes, Lloyd’s of London, also started in a coffee house. Or, Twining’s, now famous for its range of teas, started life as a coffee shop on Strand in 1717. Over the years, the British coffee house has been the home of intellectuals and pamphleteering in the 17th and 18th centuries, working class actions throughout the 19th century and, more recently, social revolutionaries and artists in the 1950s and 1960s.

We spent almost two years looking for an ideal spot for our coffee shop, and we were pleased to make Leather Lane our home in December 2010. Looking into the history of the area, we were rather surprised to find that – unlike many of the other product named streets in the area – Leather Lane has little or no history of either the production or the sale of leather goods.

According to British History Online the name seems to be a bastardisation of ‘Lyver’, ‘Lither’ and ‘Lyueroune’. It’s confused, eclectic and – at times – contradictory past continues to inform its present character. In the contemporary context, Leather Lane may be best described by what surrounds it. It is circled by the legal profession to the South; the jewellery trade immediately to the East and a design-focused community further eastward; a variety of ad, marketing and recruitment agencies to the North; and a hodgepodge of housing, retail and public spaces to the West. While we are located in Camden Borough, we’re a stone’s throw from the City of London and the City of Westminster. In short, it’s an eclectic mix of people, professions, jurisdictions, ideas and lifestyles.

It’s this blend that appeals to us. A quick wander up the street reveals food from virtually every continent, a diverse range of independent businesses and shop, and a broad range of ethnicities and ages. The hustle and bustle of the market further enhances the experience. We like the fact that we get all types of people coming in for coffee – after all, that’s what a coffee shop should be about.

Leather Lane is not without its faults and far from the ideal of a quaint English high street. At points, the street could use a bit of repair; there are several shops that have been available to rent for as long anyone can care to remember; over the years some sites have been redeveloped without regard for the local context which has broken up any pleasant rhythm the street once might have had; and on windy days the street is often covered with rubbish once the market finishes in the early afternoon.

In our experience, it’s hard to say whether this adds to or detracts from the feelings that many locals have about the area. On one side, like many other ‘locals’, we feel a certain pride in having been able to see past some of these surface blemishes and identify an interesting and vibrant community within which to set up shop. On the other, we rather like the idea of playing a small role in the gentrification of the lane and feel rather chuffed when we are complimented for doing so.

Department of Coffee and Social Affairs is our attempt to bring the idea of the coffee shop kicking and screaming into the 21st century. We want to create a place where people can – again – discuss and debate the ideas of the day over quality coffee and food – and we couldn’t think of a better place than Leather Lane to call home.

We hope that you’ll come and visit.

www.departmentofcoffee.co.uk | http://twitter.com/deptofcoffee | www.facebook.com/departmentofcoffee 
 

An introduction to Department of Coffee and Social Affairs from Miles Langley on Vimeo.

Do you agree with Tim? Let us know in the comments.

Want to write a guest blog? Send your ideas to lovecamden@camden.gov.uk.